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Transcript: 06.22 Bruins 24th Overall Draft Pick Malcolm Subban

by
Staff Writer
/ Boston Bruins

Quotes

June 22

BOSTON BRUINS 24TH OVERALL DRAFT PICK, GOALTENDER MALCOLM SUBBAN

On being in Boston and his relationship with his brother, P.K…Yeah, I guess you could say that. The rivalry is just about to begin. I don’t know if he’s gonna like me too much, but to be honest, I never liked him that much.

On the Subban Christmas party in the next few years…

Yeah, to be honest, a lot of gag gifts. So we’ll see what happens.

On what advice he got from P.K…

He just said, you got a lot of work to do, this is just the beginning, congrats and enjoy it.

On if he’s nervous…

Yeah and no, you know, like my goal from the start of the year was to go first round, especially coming out of the OHL [Ontario Hockey League]. Coming into the OHL, I was a pretty late pick. I never thought I’d come this far so just my goal after last year was just, you know, hopefully get in the first round by the end of the year and so I wasn’t disappointed at all.

On what he thought of the Bruins before being drafted…

To be honest, I didn’t like Montreal that much. I’m from Toronto, so I like Toronto more than Montreal. But I usually just watch New York Rangers and Pittsburgh. So, Boston is a great city, great town. It’s an Original Six team - there’s nothing better you can ask for, to be on an Original Six team. And as you said, I’m a rival with my brother’s team so it’s pretty surreal right now.

On what his dad will think watching him on the B’s…

He’s gonna have mixed emotions now, I bet.

On his other brother needing to be drafted by Toronto…

Yeah, you never know. We’ll see what happens next year.

On the nervousness waiting to hear his name…

Yeah and no. I was pretty comfortable, you know my goal was to go in the first round, no matter where it was. So, whether it was top five or last five, it wasn’t a big deal for me. That was my goal from the start of the year and it never changed. You know I had my path and I had my goal and I achieved it. So I’m just really happy right now and I can’t be happier with an Original Six team.

On his thoughts when it came to Boston’s pick…

Yeah, it was going through my mind, but you can say that about a lot of teams, too. I’m just so happy – it’s an Original Six team, there’s not much you can ask for. I’m just so happy right now.

On the goalie he looked up to the most…

The goalie I looked forward to – like I started when I was twelve, so I started pretty late. But Henrik Lundqvist was the goalie I’ve looked up to since 2006, watching him in the Winter Olympics - like after that I’ve always watched him. I grew up watching a lot of goalies and just trying different styles and his seemed to come for me the most. And I felt pretty comfortable playing his, so I’ve been idolizing him ever since.

On playing for the Belleville Bulls in the OHL…

It’s been huge, it’s, like I can’t thank them enough for taking me. They’re probably the best thing that happened to me and them giving me an opportunity to play and the coaching staff there – all of them are a great group of guys and great chemistry in the room as well. And it’s a great city - I obviously went up there when P.K. [Subban] was there so I was pretty – obviously – comfortable with that city so yeah I’m just so happy.

On if it’s special for him and the Belleville organization…

Yeah – really special. I know Gauncer [Brendan Gaunce] just got picked, Brendan Gaunce to Vancouver. So it’s a great day for Belleville and I know that hopefully [Daniil] Zharkov goes pretty high too, he’s a great guy, a great prospect as well.

On if his brother has been in touch with him…

He just said, you know “this is only the beginning but just enjoy it and be happy.”

On how he ended up being a goaltender so late…

I always wanted to play, I just really had a passion for it. I was a defenseman and my dad was my coach and he didn’t really want me to be a goalie so the year he stopped coaching me I kept asking him – I was supposed to go to like the Canadiens or something like that – I just kept on asking him, I said “No I want to play goalie,” and he finally let me.

On if he has any Canadiens “stuff”…

No I don’t have any Canadiens stuff actually. I have his jersey in my room - that’ll probably have to get out in place of mine.

BOSTON BRUINS GENERAL MANAGER PETER CHIARELLI

On Malcolm Subban…

Yeah, he’s obviously a real good goalie, a tremendous athlete, incredible leg thrust post to post, and he’s a real good kid – solid character. This draft is more longer-term, like goalies take longer to develop, so I’m happy to get him. We had him high, but happy to get him.

It certainly is a need and if he won’t be playing for us and his contract expires, I mean, we’re short one goalie. Going into this year, though, regardless of the Tim [Thomas] situation, it was an area we felt we wanted to backfill a little bit.

I mean, you hear this every year. We had him really high and didn’t think he’d be there, right. So I’ll say it again – he was in our top ten. We valued him. We tracked him pretty good. It kind of fits both – best player available and a need.

On if there were guys that were taken earlier than he expected…

Well, as I said, we had him in our top ten, so no, not too many. None.

On if there are any potential trades developing…

Not from us, no. We went into the draft thinking maybe we’d trade down, but again, as the draft unfolded, the first round unfolded, we felt that we were in a good spot to get this guy so we weren’t involved really in anything – nothing.

On Subban’s style of play…

I’d say he’s a hybrid. As I said, very athletic. Probably technically needs a little bit of work, but very, very competitive. Searches for pucks in traffic, is big and strong. You saw him – he’s a big kid. His lateral speed is tremendous.

On if Subban can shed his brother’s shadow…

I don’t really know him well other than to have met him briefly and we felt, based on our interview with him at the combine, and where we had him in our list that we didn’t need to bring him in. If he’s there, we’re taking him. I didn’t question him about P.K. Our guys briefed me as to his interview and they felt it was very good. We did some pretty thorough background checks, but they obviously have a very talented family and we were able to get a talented player.

On if the pick was due to a rivalry with Montreal…

Yeah (laughs). We draft on best player available, fit, need, and then rivalries. That was on top for this one though.

On if Boston fans’ opinions of his brother will affect the way they feel about Malcolm Subban…

I wouldn’t think so. Actually, I like his brother as a player. I think he’s pretty good. I know he riles the fans up in Boston but they’re - all the kids in that family are really athletic. Obviously, it’s gonna be a part of the rivalry and as a byproduct, it’s kind of exciting to watch, but we’re happy to get a good, big goalie.

On if Malcolm plays with the same exuberance as his brother…

Well, he’s very athletic, so I mean, if I were to think of a goalie that played with the exuberance of his brother, it might have been Ron Hextall. Malcolm’s doesn’t play like that, but he’s very – and that’s a compliment to Ron – but he’s very athletic. He explodes off his edges, and again, he needs some seasoning, but the foundation is there.

On if Subban’s combine testing improved his draft stock…

It helped. It helped. It didn’t move him much, but it helped.

On where he’ll play next year…

Yeah I believe he’s - I don’t know if it’s firm but I think he’s one of the goalies for that Canada-Russian series this summer.

On when he expects Malcolm to turn pro…

Well I mean, all things go as planned, we would turn him pro after next year because he’s a later birthday.